Ohio’s Move Over Law requires motorists to cautiously shift over one lane — or slow down if changing lanes is not possible — when passing any vehicle with flashing lights on the side of a road. Its purpose is to protect everyone who works on our roads and everyone who travels on them. Click here for more information on this law.

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is also committed to our Work Zone Safety and Distracted Driving Campaign aimed at educating young drivers, as well as motorists of all ages, to Look Up, Hang Up, and go ‘Slow for the Cone Zone’ when traveling through a construction zone.

Whether you are on your daily commute during the week, traveling to visit family and friends or running errands during the weekend, remember that when you see an orange barrel toLook Up, Hang Up and Go Slow For the cone Zone!

2015 Work Zone Awareness Playlist

DO YOU KNOW THE THREE TYPES OF DISTRACTED DRIVING?

Textingencompasses allthree types ofdistractions!

Visual – turning around or looking out the window

Physical – changing the radio station

Cognitive – talking on a cell phone

DISTRACTED DRIVING RESEARCH

Motor vehicle crashes kill more teens than any other cause

In the 15- to 20-year-old age group, car crashes cause 32% of all deaths (NHTSA)

A 16-year-old is 20 times more likely to be killed in a crash than an adult (NHTSA)

Nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted driver, and more than half a million were injured (NHTSA)

Using a cell phone while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent (University of Utah)

Eighty-six percent of teens know that distracted driving is dangerous – yet they do it anyway

NATIONAL LAWS

January 2013

This chart outlines state distracted driving laws. Some localities have additional regulations. Enforcement type is shown in parenthesis.

Handheld Cell Phone Use: 10 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving. Except for Maryland and West Virginia (until July 2013), all laws are primary enforcement—an officer may cite a driver for using a handheld cell phone without any other traffic offense taking place.

All Cell Phone Use: No state bans all cell phone use for all drivers, but many prohibit use by certain subsets:

33 states and D.C. ban all cell phone use by novice drivers.

School bus drivers in 19 states and D.C. may not use a cell phone when passengers are present.

Text Messaging: 39 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands ban text messaging for all drivers. All but 4 have primary enforcement.

An additional 5 states prohibit text messaging by novice drivers.

3 states restrict school bus drivers from texting.

Some states such as Maine, N.H. and Utah treat cell phone use as part of a broader distracted driving issue. In Utah, cellphone use is an offense only if a driver also commits another moving violation (other than speeding).

OHIO LAW

If you're under age 18:

*It is illegal to use any electronic wireless communications device while driving in Ohio.

This means:

No texting

No e-mailing

No talking on your cell phone, Bluetooth, Bluetooth speakers, On-Star or any similar device

No computers, laptops or tablets

No playing video games

No using your GPS (unless it's a voice-operated or hands-free device)

--- Even when you are sitting at a light or stuck in traffic

It's a Primary Offense: Law enforcement can stop you for any of the above reasons.

First violation: $150 fine, driver license suspended for 60 days

Second and/or subsequent violations: $300 fine, driver license suspended for one year

Exceptions: Pre-programmed GPS, vehicles in a stationary position and outside a lane of travel, emergency calls to law enforcement, hospital, fire department, etc.

Adult drivers (18 years or older):

*It is Illegal to use a handheld electronic wireless communications device to write, send or read a text while driving in Ohio.

Links and Resources

Safety is Top Priority at ODOT. Whether Ohioans are traveling by heels or wheels, ODOT wants you to get to your destination safely. That’s why ODOT has launched a statewide grassroots safety campaign called Every Move You Make, Keep It Safe.

The 2013 theme, "Work Zone Safety: We're All In This Together," highlights the complexities of work zones, especially in urban areas, and the need for awareness and planning on the part of everyone affected by work zones – DOTs, road workers, drivers, bicyclists, motorcycles, pedestrians, emergency response, law enforcement, utility workers.

is the USDOT’s official website on distracted driving - Get more facts about distracted driving, learn who is joining forces to spread the message about distracted driving and view student-created videos about distracted driving. Remember, taking your eyes of the road for two seconds doubles your crash risk!